Man arrested in death of 13-year-old girl found by road in Laurentians

MONTREAL — Quebec provincial police have arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with the violent death of a teenage girl who was found by the side of a road in Quebec’s Laurentians region.

Oceane Boyer’s body bore marks of violence, and police on Thursday described the 13-year-old’s death as a homicide.

Police confirmed the arrest via Twitter Thursday afternoon.

The Surete du Quebec said Boyer was found at about 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday in Brownsburg-Chatham, about 70 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

She was confirmed dead in hospital shortly after.

Police were able to identify the body after the girl’s parents called to report her missing Wednesday evening.

Sgt. Marc Tessier said several citizens had called to offer information. Police asked anyone with details of the event to contact them, adding all calls to the station would be treated confidentially.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault reacted on Twitter, describing the death as a “horrible tragedy.”

“My heart is with the parents, the family and friends of young Oceane,” he wrote.

A youth centre in Lachute that the girl frequented announced it would offer psychological support for local teens.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2020.

The Canadian Press